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Spurs closing in on Adebayor

8 July 2012 09:55

Tottenham are closing in on a deal to sign Emmanuel Adebayor on a permanent transfer from Manchester City.

The Londoners have reduced City's initial asking price by half and will pay the Togolese striker a five million pound signing-on fee as they look to supplement his current 170 thousand pound a week wage package.

Sources at City expect the deal to be completed within days as they look to free up their wage budget and spaces in their squad to make a move for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie.

The Premier League champions had hoped for a bidding war for Adebayor following interest earlier in the summer from Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, but Tottenham have emerged as the only option.

Adebayor, 28, made it clear he was eager to return to White Hart Lane and new Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas also expressed his desire to sign the former Arsenal man.

"It didn't look very likely at the end of the season but we've found a solution that satisfies City, Spurs and the player," a source told Goal.com.

"Spurs are the only team to have held talks over the transfer and City are desperate to get rid of him."

Adebayor played a key role for Spurs on loan last season under Harry Redknapp, scoring 17 Premier League goals and providing 11 assists in 33 appearances, building a particularly strong understanding with winger Gareth Bale.

His arrival will be a huge boost for Villas-Boas as he prepares for the start of pre-season on Monday, with Jermain Defoe the only senior striker at the club.

Spurs will look to sign at least one more young striker with potential to improve, but Adebayor is expected to lead the line next term in Villas-Boas' preferred 4-3-3 system.

Adebayor signed a five-year contract when he joined City from Arsenal for 25 million pounds in 2009 but has endured a miserable time at the Etihad Stadium since the appointment of Roberto Mancini as coach in December that year.

He has made just 45 appearances for the club in all competitions and spent the second half of the 2010-11 season on loan at Real Madrid before moving to Spurs on a season-long loan last term.